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2025 NOMINEES
Brand Franchise Leadership Catalyst for Change < 500 Catalyst for Change > 500
Commercial Excellence Designer/Inventor Corporate Designer/Inventor - Independent
Digital Innovator Emerging Technology Leader Inbound Licensing Licensing Agent/Agency
Marketing Visionary Mentor of the Year PR & Communications Excellence Rising Leader < 500 Employees Rising Leader > 500 Employees Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year
Unsung Hero > 500 Employees Unsung Hero < 500 Employees WiT Champion
2025 Honoree

WiT VANGUARD
Maya Rogers
CEO, Tetris
Maya Rogers is CEO of Tetris, one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world. With over 40 years of history, Tetris continues to captivate fans globally and has expanded far beyond the screen. Under Maya’s leadership, Tetris launched hit titles like Tetris Effect: Connected and Tetris 99, expanded into film with the Apple TV+ movie Tetris, and was named Best Digital Brand of 2024 at the Licensing International Awards. The brand now reaches into fashion, toys, and entertainment through 90+ global partners.
Tetris has been part of Maya’s family story since its earliest days. Raised with a front-row seat to the brand’s global rise, she now leads with deep respect for its legacy, while bringing fresh energy and creativity to its future. Her thoughtful approach to partnerships, storytelling, and innovation is helping redefine how a classic video game can show up in culture, wellness, and everyday life.
In addition to her work with Tetris, Maya co-founded Blue Startups, Hawaiʻi’s first venture accelerator. Since 2014, it has helped over 135 early-stage companies grow through mentorship, community, and investment, with a focus on inclusion and impact.
Maya is a proud mom and passionate advocate for underserved communities. She serves on several nonprofit boards, including the American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region, What School Could Be (WSCB), and the Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women and Children. Through all her work, she brings a strong sense of purpose, connection, and care.
NOMINEES
Brand Franchise Leadership

BBC STUDIOS GLOBAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS TEAM
Led by, Suzy Lee Raia - SVP Global Consumer Products
BBC Studio

RUTH HENRIQUEZ
Head of Licensing, Publishing & LBE EMEA
Mattel

THE PAW PATROL FRANCHISE TEAM
led by, Jamie Drew - EVP, Licensing Consumer Products & Experiences
Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

LAURA HENDERSON
EVP, Toy Brands & Creative Marketing
Spin Master

TARYN JOHNSON
Sr. Manager, Franchise Strategy Integration
Disney

THE PEPPA PIG GLOBAL BRAND TEAM
led by, Esra Cafer - SVP Global Brand Strategy & Management
Kristin McKay - SVP and GM of Global Brands
Hasbro, Inc.

LEGO®️ BRAND MARKETING TEAM
Led by, Maddie Boushie - Brand Director, US Marketing
LEGO Systems, Inc.

THE CRUNCHYROLL CONSUMER PRODUCTS TEAM
led by, Anna Songco Adamian - VP, Global Consumer Products
Crunchyroll

WICKED FRANCHISE TEAM
led by, Melissa Rodriguez - VP Franchise Strategy
Universal Products & Services
Catalyst for Change Under 500

DR. AMANDA GUMMER
Founder/CEO
Fundamentally Children

KATIE GOLDSTEIN
Global Head of Policy & Regulatory Affairs
SuperAwesome

RACHELE HARMUTH
Founder
MESH Helps
and
Head of Product and Commercialization CrunchLabs

GENNA ROSENBERG
Changemaker CEO
GennComm

LISA BOATMAN
Sr. Director of People
Exploding Kittens

JULIANA VANLAANAN
Co-Founder/CEO
2MamaBees

NANA BOUWENS
Creative Director
Tears R us
Catalyst for Change Over 500

ALEX YEE
Sr. Manager Global Hardlines Licensing
Disney

KATE ZAHRA
Chief People Officer
Moose Toys

ARIANNA RYAN
Chief People Officer & EVP Sustainability
Asmodee

CAROLINA GIUGA
Sr. Director, Government & Public Affairs, Americas
LEGO Systems, Inc.
Commercial Excellence

AMY SULLIVAN
VP Retail Business Development
Cloudco Entertainment

CELICA COSTANTINO
VP of Retail Sales
Ageless Innovation

FIONA HARDIE
Buying Lead, Toys & Entertainment
Amazon

LEGO®️ CANADA BUSINESS UNIT
led by, Daniela Cavinatto - GM, Canada
LEGO Systems, Inc.

TARA GARTMAN
SVP, Retail Development & Marketing
Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

ASHLEY EMIG
VP, Sales - Walmart US
Melissa & Doug
Spin Master

CHELSEA WOOD
Director of Sales
Relatable

HOLLY SESTAK
Director, Retail Brand Commercialization
Disney

MEGAN SAPIN
Sr. Director of Sales
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America

TARA GEORGE
Country Manager, Mattel Canada
Mattel

CARRIE MUELLER
Sr. Director of Sales – Target Team Lead
VTech Electronics North America

EMILY MACLENNAN
GM UK & EU
Moose Toys

LAUREN ADELSBERGER HARMER & MEGAN FENNINGHAM
Sales Director & Account Manager
Jazwares

SARA HUMPHREYS
VP, Walmart Team Leader
Hasbro, Inc.

TRACY RAPOSE
VP, Team Lead
Just Play
Designer/Inventor Corporate

AUDREY FREDA TAM
Design Director - Dolls, Collectibles & Activities
Moose Toys

EMMA PEAT
Sr. Design Manager – Interactive + Dolls
Spin Master

KATE FAKONAS
Sr. Director of Product Design, Play-Doh and Nerf
Hasbro, Inc.

MIYA KIM
Product Design Manager, Squish-a-Longs
Jazwares

SUNG PARK
Sr. Manager, Product Design
Disney Licensing

BRIANNA "BREE" WOODWARD
Creative Director
Asmodee

HARMONY HINES -SLATTERY
Product Design Manager
Disney Parks

MARI SUNDERLAND
SVP Web & Product Development
VTech Electronics North America

REBECCA SHIPMAN
Key Lead Product Designer - Barbie/Dolls Design
Mattel

DANIELLE GLEASON
Managing Product Designer
CrunchLabs

JIHYE KIM
Director of Product Design
Just Play

MICHELE ADAMSEN
VP of Creative Services
Playmates Toys Inc.

STEPHANIE KRAUS
Global EVP
Universal Products & Experiences
Designer/Inventor - Independent

APRIL MITCHELL
Inventor/Designer
4A's Creations, LLC

MORGAN UHL
CEO/Inventor
Knobēz

CARLA SCHNEIDER
CEO/Founder
WubbaNub

SALLY CONNOLLY
Founder/Inventor/
Licensor/Entrepreneur
Napa Valley Toys USA

ELLIE DIX
Independent Game Designer
The Dark Imp

SERENA FADLUN
Inventor & Game Designer
Serena Fadlun
Digital Innovator

AMANDA MULLER
Director, Creative Development, Games & Emerging Media
Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

JESS KIRKMAN
Sr. Director of Global Brand Creative
Mattel

MARJORY LAYMON
VP, Product and Tech–Hasbro DTC and D&D Beyond
Hasbro, Inc.

CHRISTINE TRAN
Head of Entertainment & Character Product Team
Amazon

KATHERINE SCHOBER
Director, Social Media
Jazwares

RAY BILLINGS
Digital Content Specialist
The Op Games

DAISY RITZ
VP of Marketing
Exploding Kittens

LINDSEY PITTS
Tech Service Specialist
LEGO Systems, Inc.
Emerging Technology Leader

ADITI MITTAL
Head of Strategic Programs, US Prime & Marketing Technology
Amazon

HANNAH GRANT
Sr. Product Manager
SuperAwesome

CARRIE BUSE
Head of Discovery, Mattel Future Lab
Mattel

KRISTIN SIZE
Director, Systems Engineering
LEGO Systems, Inc.

DEBORAH STALLINGS STUMM
Founder & Chief FUN Officer
FUNfluential
Inbound Licensing

AMY JARASHOW
VP, Global Publishing, Crafts and Celebrations
Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

HOLLIE HOLMES
VP, Global Licensing Acquisitions
Moose Toys

Marianne James
SVP, Global Licensing, Hasbro Licensed Consumer Products
Hasbro, Inc.

CHARLOTTE PAYNE
VP, International Licensing
Cloudco Entertainment

KATHLEEN LIN WO
Sr. Account Manager Licensing, Licensing & Extended Line
LEGO Systems, Inc.

DONYELLE EVANS
Sr. Manager Corporate Development, Licensing Acquisitions
Mattel

KATHRYN HARDY
Sr. Director of Licensing
Just Play
Licensing Agent/Agency

HEIDI SCHWARTZ
VP Business Development
Universal Branding & Media

THE KING FEATURES TEAM
led by Carla Silva - SVP, GM, Global Head of Licensing
King Features - a unit of Hearst

LAURIE SMITH
EVP
The Brand Liaison
Marketing Visionary

AUDREY CAO
Head of Marketing
The Woobles

GEORGIA MANOLAS WALKER
VP of Marketing, Girls Brands
Playmates Toys Inc.

JULIE POULTER
Creative Director, Advertising
Moose Toys

KELLY RYAN
Sr. Manager, Print & Offsite
Amazon

ELIZABETH ING
Director of Marketing
Entertainment Earth

HOLLY KOVAL
Brand Manager, US Marketing
Spin Master

KAREN BALDUF
VP, VTech & LeapFrog Marketing
VTech Electronics North America

KRISTEEN TIBBITS
VP Marketing and Social Media
Cloudco Entertainment

ESTELLE VAREILLES
Global VP Route to Market Marketing
Asmodee

JILLIAN SCHUMACHER
Marketing Manager
Brotherwise Games

KATIE BUFORD
VP Global Brand Marketing, Hot Wheels
Mattel

MEGHAN QUINN
Sr. Director, Franchise & Marketing Strategy
Just Play
Mentor of the Year

ALYSHA CURTIS
Global Marketing Director
Moose Toys

KAREN BRANSON
Chief Revenue Officer
Relatable

TAL SCHRIEBER
Head of Early Learning Innovation Center
Spin Master

JESSICA SHULTZ
VP of Packaging Design
Just Play

LAURA CHRISTY
Sr. Director, Marketing
Jazwares

JILL STRAIN
Sr. Director, Supply and Inventory Planning
LEGO Systems, Inc.

MORGAN RENKEN
VP of Operations, Chief of Staff
Entertainment Earth
PR Communications & Excellence

CALEIGH ANTHONY
Sr. Director, Global Communications
Spin Master

LUCY SILAG
Communications Manager, Amazon North America Stores
Amazon

ELISA MARTINEZ
LATAM Integrated Marketing Communications Director
Mattel

RACHEL SANDLER
SVP, Communications
Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

ELIZABETH FOSTER
VP of Content and Communications
Licensing International

SARA ROSALES MONTALVO
SVP, Communications
Jazwares
Rising Leader Under 500 Employees

AUDREY TORRENCE
Global Brand Manager, Littlest Pet Shop
Basic Fun, Inc.

JOYCE SPRAU
VP of Product Development
Creata (USA) Inc.

MICHELLE HAWTHORN
Director, Licensing and Marketing
Born To Play

BERIT GINSBERG
Sr. Brand Marketing Manager
King Features, a unit of Hearst

KELLEE VOPELAK
VP of Creative Operations
Exploding Kittens

HALEY HINSHAW
Head of Production
CrunchLabs

LIZ STARRY
Sr. Brand Manager, Games
Relatable
Rising Leader Over 500 Employees

ANGIE OUNG
Sr. Director of Global Marketing
Moose Toys

ELAINE CHASE
CMO Trading Card Games
Ravensburger

JENNIFER NELSON
Director of Market Operations
LEGO Systems, Inc.

SERINA FIGNOLE
Sr. Manager, Global Brand Marketing
Jazwares

CATHERINE SUTHERLAND
Director, eCommerce Retail Development
Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

JACKELINE GONZALEZ
Director, Toys, CP & Global Hardlines
Universal Products & Experiences

MEGAN MARGOLIS
Director, Emerging Business, Magic: The Gathering
Hasbro, Inc.

TAYLOR MASON
Product Manager, Entertainment & Character - Evergreen Strategy & Innovation
Amazon

DEBORAH STRUMPF
Sr. Director Global Brand Marketing – Barbie
Mattel

JAYME THOMPSON
Sr. Director, Walmart Team Lead
Just Play

MINNA SEIFERT
Manager, Product Development
Spin Master

TIFFANY LAVERY
Director, PR & Social Marketing,
VTech Electronics North America
Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year

BREA BRAND
CEO, Co-Founder & Creative Director
CONNETIX

JUSTINE TIU
Co-Founder
The Woobles

MARJORIE SPITALNIK
Founder & CEO
Little Rebels

HEATHER O'NEILL
CEO & Partner Owner
9th Level Games

KUSUMA REDDY
Founder
The Culturorama

RACHEL NEILL
Founder
Figgy

HELEN SMITH
Founder and CEO
Roo & You™

MACY SCHMIDT
Founder & CEO
Overture Global Entertainment
Unsung Hero Under 500 Employees

ALY ARD
Shop & Facilities Director
CrunchLabs

CHEYANNE HUKE
Sales Manager
Crazy Aaron's Puttyworld

HELEN XU
Project Manager
The Woobles

AMY BAKER
VP, Finance & Accounting
Exploding Kittens

CHRISTINA SMITH
VP of Strategic Sourcing and Customer Experience
Miniature Market

MARIA UNGARO
SVP, Member & Partner Relations
Licensing International

ASHLEE VIRTUE
Sr. Executive Assistant & Office Operations Manager
Relatable

GABI MATTINSON
Finance Business Partner
Cloudco Entertainment
Unsung Hero Over 500 Employees

CAMERON BROWN
Sr. Customer Success Manager Amazon Vendor Services - Toys
Amazon

KATIE GENERAZIO
Senior Director, Finance
Hasbro, Inc.

STEPHANIE FISHER
Director of Revenue Cycle
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.

CÉLINE BUCKI
Group Legal Director
Asmodee

KEREN GLOBUS
SVP, Design Operations
Jazwares

STEPHANIE NORTH
General Counsel
Just Play

KATHY CASEY
Sr. Director of Retail Marketing
Mattel

LIBBY BIRCH
Global Presentations Director
Moose Toys

TINA COLANTUONO
Sr. Manager Distribution and Allocation Retail Planning, Merchandising & In-Stock
LEGO Systems, Inc.
WiT Champion

GABBY DIAZ
Executive Assistant for Analytics and Insights and Central M&C Marketing VPs
LEGO Systems, Inc.

STACY LEWIS
Founder & Chief Playmaker
StacyLoo

JULIEN SHARP
GM & Country Manager, US
Asmodee

STACY LIEBENSOHN
Sr. Account Executive
The Toy Association

ROBIN DARLING
Manager, Global Corporate Events
Mattel